Bishop agrees new Ospreys deal

Ospreys centre Andrew Bishop has become the latest player to sign a new contract with the region.

When you look at the players who've come through over the last couple of years and the boys coming through now I'm really excited about the future of the Ospreys and I'm delighted that I'm going to be a part of it

The 27-year old Bishop is the 10th player to commit his future to the Ospreys in recent weeks, putting pen to paper on a three-year deal which runs until the summer of 2016.

Having made his debut for the Ospreys against Borders as a 19-year old back in February 2005, Bishop has been an almost constant fixture in the Ospreys team ever since, playing a big part in four league wins and touching down at Twickenham to help the Ospreys secure the EDF Energy Cup with victory over Leicester Tigers in 2008.

He currently tops the all-time appearance list for the Ospreys with 188 (10 tries), sitting two ahead of Jonathan Thomas with Duncan Jones a further two appearances behind. In addition, he has played 16 times for Wales since his debut on the 2008 South Africa tour, his latest coming against the Barbarians last June.

"I'm really happy about this," said Bishop. "It's great news, I want to stay with the Ospreys which is a great place to be and is where I've played all my senior rugby.

"There's a very good squad here with competition for places right through it. There are a huge amount of youngsters in the squad so I'm in a strange position where at 27, I'm one of the oldest backs here.

"It's an honour to be able to take a senior role in the group and to help the young players coming through. It's something I really enjoy doing and I take great pleasure from seeing how well these guys do as they come through into the team.

"When you look at the players who've come through over the last couple of years and the boys coming through now I'm really excited about the future of the Ospreys and I'm delighted that I'm going to be a part of it."

Currently sidelined as he recovers from surgery last month to resolve a disc issue in his back, Bishop remains positive about his chances of returning to action before the end of the current campaign to help the last push for the play-offs.

"I haven't given up hope of playing again this season. If we make the top four that gives me more time and I'd love to be involved, lending my experience to the cause," he added.

"I've been pretty lucky throughout my career with injury. This is the first proper injury I've had so I'm just looking forward to getting over it now and getting back playing. Having the most Ospreys caps is something I'm proud of, so with JT and Duncan breathing down my neck that's an extra incentive to get back out there and keep hold of that record."

Dan Biggar, Richard Fussell, Tom Grabham, Tom Isaacs, Duncan Jones, Rhys Webb, Joe Bearman, Lloyd Peers and James King have all signed new contracts recently, while the signing of Italian international Tito Tebaldi has also been confirmed for next season

Gemma Rowland has had a 'whirlwind' start to her international career with Wales. Despite losing to France, she is confident Wales Women can bounce back and claim a rare Triple Crown against Ireland on Sunday, as WRU TV's Graeme Gillespie discovers.

The Wales teams return home for the Irish leg of their Six Nations campaigns in this week's Principality Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We speak to Wales attack coach Rob Howley and defence coach Shaun Edwards, as well as flanker Dan Lydiate and full back Leigh Halfpenny. We hear from Wales Women's back rower Sian Williams and Wales U20 forwards coach Chris Horsman and flanker Ollie Griffiths.

Wales look to build on victory in Paris in this week's Principality Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We hear from coach Warren Gatland and captain Sam Warburton, as well as Wales Women's coach Rhys Edwards. We also hear from Wales U20 duo Dan Jones and Joe Davies, along with Wales U18s.

We look ahead to the French tests in this week's Principality Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We look ahead to Wales France with Warren Gatland, Sam Warburton, Scott Baldwin, Rhys Webb and Jonathan Davies. Wales Women are the only team in red still unbeaten in this Six Nations, we speak to captain Rachel Taylor. Wales U20 are looking bounce back from defeat in Scotland, we hear from coach Jason Strange, captain Rory Thornton and front rower Dillon Lewis.

Warren Gatland and Sam Warburton look ahead to this week's crunch RBS 6 Nations tie against France, where the Wales skipper in particular is keen to make his mark, as Paris has proved a bleak place for him in the past.

The Ospreys' push for a play-off place in the Guinness PRO12 enters a vital few weeks as they play the bottom two teams in the table. This weekend they host Zebre at the Liberty Stadium and on Friday, 10 April travel to face Benetton Treviso.